Fastening device



Nov. 15, 1932. A. H. TROTTER 1,887,741

FASTENING DEVICE Fiied Nov. 22. 1927 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR H. TROTTER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 HOOKLESS FASTENER COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA FASTENING DEVICE Application filed November 22, 1927. Serial No. 235,023.

boots and other footwear etc., articles of.

clothing, sacks, traveling bags and other eontainers, automobile and carriage curtalns, tarpaulins, curtains etc., which fastening device is particularly simple and economical in construction, highly efficient, weather tight and durable in use and also which is readily operable.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of one form of my fastening device.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of an article provided with my fastening means.

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 of another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 5 is an edge view of a third embodiment of my invention.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the slide.

This fastening device comprises generally, elongated strips designed to be secured as by stitching, cementing or otherwise to two parts to be fastened together or formed integral with said parts, the strips being of resilient material and lapping each other and so shaped that they are tensioned to press their lapping faces toward each other, the lapping faces being formed with continuous interlocking tongues and grooves extending lengthwise thereof, each strip being formed with a tongue and groove which is complemental to the tongue and groove on the'other strip and the interlocking portions being under-beveled so that the lapping portions of the strip are virtually provided with lengthwise interlocking snugly fitting hook shaped beads extending the full length thereof.

The fastening device further includes an operating member as a slide which brings the interlocking heads into interlocking engagement by being merely slidable along the strips in one direction. Sliding of the op erating member along the strips in the op posite direction permits them to be unlocked and separated.

In Figure 1, 1 and 2 designate the strips of resilient material which are secured by sew mg or otherwise to two pieces 3, 4 to be fastened together, the strips lapping each other. The strips 1,2 are usually of rubber and formed with their lapping portions convex or bow-shaped in cross section and tensioned to be pressed toward each other and the opposing faces of the lapping portions being provided with concave lengthwise grooves 5 toward their base portions, that is, the portions which are secured to the strips 3, 4 and with continuous heads 6 toward their outer edges, the beads being complemental to the grooves 5. These beads are b-arb shaped in cross section, extend lengthwise the full len th of the strips and are provided with un er-cut faces 7 which interlock.

The surfaces 5 constitute the grooves and the barbs or beads 6 the tongues, and each strip 1 or 2 is therefore formed with a tongue and groove which interlocks with the complemental tongue and groove of the other strip. The parts 3, 4 may be the outer sides of an arctic or may be any other two separable parts which it is desired to fasten to gether.

In Figures 1 and 2, one of the strips as 4 is shown as provided with an extension 8 which forms the tongue of an overshoe although this tongue may be omitted as the interlocking strips of the fastening device are Water or weather tight. The pieces 1, 2 are usually of rubber and owing to their bow shape are tensioned to presstoward each other.

In Figure 3, three strips 9, 10 and 11 are used, the intermediate strip 11 being in the form of a single barb in cross section and interlocking with the barb shaped beads 13 on the inner strip 9. The strip 10 is shown as formed with a bead in the form of a barb, but the bead does not function as a barb. It happens to be barb shaped as the same mold is used for forming it as the other barbed strips.

2 strips, this slide is moved in the opposite di-' the lapping portions of the strips.

ment, an operating member as a s ide 20 is provided, this slide being comparatively narrow and shaped to fit the interlocking lapping portions of the strips 1, 2 and conforming to the outer surfaces 0 these strips as well as the opposing lapping surfaces with the interlocking hook shaped part. When the strlps are separated, merely sliding of the member 20 lengthwise thereof will 'brlng'the strips into interlocking engagement. To disengage the rection and then the strips unlocked by first separating their upper ends or the ends remote from the slide then pulling'the strips apart.

In each of the forms shown in'Figures 3 and 5, the slide conforms to the outline of 21 designates the slide in Figure 3 and 22 the slide in Figure 5.

As the slide fits or conforms to the outline of the lapping portions including the hook shaped beads thereof, this slide when moved. in one direction or from the fixed ends of the strips toward the free ends must necessarily guide the hook shaped beads of the'str'ips into locking engagement, and when moved chored permits the free ends of the strips tobe unhooked and by merely pullinglaterally on them and separating from each other up to the slide. V

When the slide has been moved from the fixed ends of the strips to the free ends thereof, the strips are anchored at both ends and their heads interlocked and held together by the resiliency of the strips. If the strips are unduly long, they can be separated between their ends, but in strips of such length as are used in overshoes or small bags usually closed by pucker strings, the parts are held interlocked by the resiliency of the strips after the heads have been guided into interlocking engagement. The slide is merely a convenient means for guiding the beads into interlocking What Iclaim is: v

1. A fastening device comprising strips of resilient material, the strips lapping each other and each having a portion of its surface opposed to the otherstrip concave and the remaining portion toward the edge of the strip in the shape of a barb in cross section extending lengthwise of the strip, the barb of each strip being arranged to interlock with V the barb of the other strip and the barb of each stri fitting the concave surface of the other strip and said strips being tensioned to press toward each other.

2. A fastening device comprising strips of flexible resilient material bowshaped in cross section, the strips lapping each other with their concave faces toward each other, each strip being provided on its face toward the other strip with a continuous lengthwise marginal head in the form of a barb in cross section for interlocking with the bead of the other strip.

3. .A fastening device comprising strips of flexible resilient material bow shaped in cross section, the strips lapping each other with their concave faces toward each other, each strip being provided on its face toward the other strip with a continuous lengthwise marginal beadin the form of a barb in cross section for interlocking with the head of the other strip anda slide movable along the strip and conformin to the outline of the head, the slide extending between interlockin portions of the beads and along the outer si e ofthe outermost strip.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at'Syracuse, in the county of. Onondaga, and State of New York, this 14th day of November, 1927. I

' ARTHUR H. TROTTER. 2

engagement and holding the free ends of the strips anchored.

This fastening device is particularly adout the use of laps or tongues and further reguires no expensive special machinery to prouce it. 

